But it's just the latest in a fairly long list of U-turns performed by ministers. Some are trivial, others have been seen as significant victories for campaigners and the opposition.

Turns out there have been quite a few...

-

Close



of





In August 2010 the first major U-turn involved reversing a plan to scrap free school milk for the youngest pupils.

Once again the decision to U-turn came straight from Number 10. Cameron was worried that it evoked memories of Thatcher-esque policies towards school milk in the 1980s, despite his public health minister saying the milk didn't benefit the kids.

In February 2011 the coalition saw its first major U-turn, with a plan to sell off England's forests reversed after a massive campaign by Tories, rural campaigners and even the Socialist Worker Party.

The U-Turn came at the behest of David Cameron and was embarrassing - but not politically fatal - for environment secretary Caroline Spelman. She had to apologise to the Commons after deciding to reverse the "consultation". Since then she's managed to keep her head down, but looming problems with droughts in England could give her a tricky 2012.

Clarke was forced to abandon any changes to the sentencing guidelines for rape, after a spectacular gaffe on BBC Radio 5 Live in which he alluded to the notion of "serious rape". The media storm which followed made it impossible for the coalition to tinker with the guidelines for punishing convicted rapists

In October 2010 Vince Cable was forced to row back on plans to levy a graduate tax - to be paid by people once they were earning money. Instead the tuition fees model emerged. It didn't prove any more popular with students, but it did get through.

Less of a U-turn, more like stopping in a layby, this one. After Lib Dem coalition MPs got very worried at radical plans to introduce competition into the NHS, the government conducted a 'listening excercise' on the Health and Social Care Bill.

For the first time in living memory a government Bill was sent back to committee for a second time. The government claimed the end result was supported by the NHS professions. Then they came out and said they still opposed it.

This one is very recent, but as a reminder... the government was criticised by Tesco, one of the major firms taking part in the work experience scheme for young people. Ministers had to abandon plans to take away benefits from those who didn't see out their work experience.